Taste of Creede ushers in summer season

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Photos by Lyndsie Ferrell and Keith R. Cerny The 35th annual Taste of Creede was a huge success this past weekend. Between the artist demonstrations along Main Street to the first Kbelle Community Cookoff, the weekend was fun for the entire family and was a great way to welcome summer. Callie Adams of Alamosa was among several artists to participate in the annual ‘Taste of Creede’ celebration over the weekend. An employee at La Puente homeless shelter, she chose to paint a scene of downtown Creede. A highlight of Saturday’s ‘Taste of Creede’ event was the unveiling of a life-size moose sculpture at the Creede Hotel. Sculptor James Ferrari of Dallas, Texas, explains to onlookers how he incorporated Ferrari and Dodge Hellcat parts in the stainless-steel sculpture. It stands 8 feet and 9 inches in height, 4 feet and 7 inches wide and 9 feet and 7 inches long and took more than 1,000 hours to create. Hotel owners Michael and Shelly Dee have been involved in the artistic evolution of Creede for many years.

CREEDE —Muddy water flowed in the Rio Grande at peak levels this weekend in Creede as temperature rose and wind breezed off the high peaks still white with snow. Creede was bustling with early season guests wandering along Main Street tasting samples of food from local businesses and watching artists of different media create masterpieces on the spot during the 35th annual Taste of Creede.

For the first time ever, the Creede Repertory Theatre opened its doors early to welcome summer guests and hosted the opening of “Mountain Octopus.” Reviews of the play are coming in and audiences are raving about it tenfold.

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear with people working their way from artists and local businesses, enjoying the first few days of summer in the mountain town. As the morning turned to afternoon, the first-ever Community Cookoff started under a big tent and was sponsored by the Kentucky Belle Market, otherwise known as Kbelle.

Participants gathered under the tent with homemade samples that ranged from chili, to three-bean soup. This year’s participants included The Holy Moses, The Riverhead Company, Oleo, Opie’s, Creede Parks and Recreation, Wild Mountain Beaver Emporium and Jewelry, Kip’s Grill, Creede Hotel and Arps and the Creede Farmer’s Market.

In addition to all the wonderful events throughout the day, the Creede Hotel also unveiled its new sculpture. According to the press release, “In their commitment to enhancing the appeal of Creede and building on the growing arts culture and community, Michael and Shelly Dee, owners of the Creede Hotel, commissioned the jaw dropping moose sculpture by their friend, artist James Ferrari, Co-owner of Ferrari Gallery in Dallas, Texas. The piece is comprised of authentic Ferrari car parts, Dodge Hellcat parts and stainless steel. It stands 8 feet and 9 inches in height, 4 feet and 7 inches wide and 9 feet and 7 inches long and took more than 1,000 hours to create.”

For more information or a list of coming events, visit www.creede.com.